Mrs. Diana Hopeson, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has called on African-Americans not to forget their roots but return to the continent to contribute to Africa’s development. Mrs. Hopeson says Africa’s development will need the collaboration and support of all and African-Americans have a special role to play. “We must praise President Obama for visiting Africa within just six months of assuming office. It is a unique achievement which also serves as a very good example for many Africans in the Diaspora to visit the continent and contribute to Africa’s development,” Mrs. Hopeson also known as Diana Akiwumi stated on her impressions of the visit of Barack Obama to Ghana. Mr. Obama, the first black man to become president of the USA paid a glowing visit to Ghana last Friday to Saturday in what was his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office. MUSIGA organized a little soiree on Saturday night at the W E B Dubois Centre in Accra to commemorate an after-party of the Obama visit as well as serve as tribute to recently deceased pop music icon Michael Jackson. Though it failed to draw the expected patronage, it was still a well-organised event which more importantly served it purpose. Musicians such as Odeefour, BB Brew, Bernice Ansah, Slim Buster, Chizzy Wailer, Mrs. Hopeson herself and many others thrilled the Dubois Centre to its foundations.
The crowd, mostly made up of Americans and African-Americans living in Ghana, were also ecstatic rising up on many occasions to join the various artistes on the stage to dance to their good tunes and also chant and hail the name of Barack Obama and Michael Jackson incessantly. Wind Africa, a musical band which also performed on the night even went a step further to exhibit a flurry of Michael Jackson’s famous ‘moon-walk’ in honour of their hero.
Mrs. Hopeson, one of many who signed a book of condolence opened on the night in honour of Michael Jackson, hailed the American music star as the most influential musician of all time. She said Michael Jackson not only was Jackson a legend who did well with his own music and career, he also inspired many others to become musicians or become music fans. “I am personally very sad we have lost Michael Jackson so soon. He is a legend who will forever remain in our hearts because for many of us, we were motivated by Michael Jackson’s music to become musicians. His success gave me the belief that I could also do it and today I am so sad that we have lost him,” the President of MUSIGA said solemnly. Whilst in Ghana, President Obama visited the La General Hospital, addressed Parliament before making a journey to the Central Region and to take a personal tour of the Cape Coast Castle. He also called on the Omanhene of Cape Coast.
